A/N: Don't worry Full Hollow, that was planned all along. There will be more of them to come.

In general this chapter doesn't contain much actions just as it does set up the whole general scenario for Mitsunari and his new environment.

Don't worry, there will be plenty of cases were Mitsunari gets some character development and for some intense action. It won't be jumping to main plot so quickly, there is plenty to explore and create in Las Noches! Without further ado, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter V: Confusion

I moved along the hallway, forcing the soreness that had finally caught up with me from my mind. I tried to ignore the pain that now came as my adrenaline wore away but found it overwhelming. Bruises more than likely covered me along with a few cuts here and there that I had received in my brawl with Ggio. Desperate to find something to take my mind from the pain I focused on those around me as we made our way through the winding halls of Las Noches.

Harribel walked in front of me, her blond tresses flowing with each step as she looked straight ahead. Then Sung-Sun moved beside her, her olive-green locks flowing behind as she kept stride with Harribel. Her sleeve covered her mouth as she moved, and I noticed that her lavender irises were focused dead ahead just as Harribel's were. Neither of them had spoken to me or looked in my general direction since we had left the Throne Room.

On each side of me were the two that seemed to be utterly fascinated with me and my arrival. Apacci and Mila Rose. And they were just as fascinated with me as they were with arguing with one another.

"I still think Baraggan's brat should have been left to die." Apacci stated from my left with venom, the comment aimed at Mila Rose who was across me to my right. I was quite literally in the middle of their argument. I had yet to say anything, despite the fact I didn't agree with Apacci by any means at all.

However, she had a reason to feel the way she did I imagine. It was quite clear there was animosity between the fraccion of each Espada, and between the Espada themselves. She claimed the only reason she had even helped was because I was within the fray.

I remained neutral in the argument, when the tension was so thick it was probably the wiser move. Additionally, I was just tired from the sudden chain of events and I didn't feel like defending my point, especially since Mila Rose was doing a fair job for me.

Her tanned expression was set into a scowl as she looked across me to Apacci, her words holding just as much venom, "He is just an overly-loyal brat who follows orders a bit too strictly. I am sure he thinks the same of us. However he didn't deserve to die just because he was bested. And if he did deserve to die it should be by Mitsunari's blade while he is standing on his own two feet. Not by that sack of bones, laid on his knees." I obviously saw the logic in her statement and agreed with it more.

But yet again, I stayed silent. Neutrality was always a lovely path to take. I attempted to lengthen my stride to catch up with Harribel but the soreness prevented any such thing. I was still stuck between the cross-fire of the fraccion.

"Didn't deserve to die? He was ready to give his life. Is it stupid? Yeah, the dumbass probably should have resisted. But if he was willing to do something so short-sighted then let him get weeded out. Mitsunari isn't far off the scale of stupid though." She bumped my shoulder with her fist and it hurt more than I cared to admit.

"You could have easily gotten yourself killed you idiot!" Apacci shouted as I gave a sheepish grin, raising my arms in defense and surrender.

"I was just thinking in the moment-"

"So what are you saying Apacci? If I were to have done what Ggio did, except for Harribel I would be stupid?" Mila Rose asked from behind me, firmly grabbing my shoulder as if backing me. Little did she know that instead I felt pain surge through my and crackle along my spine because oh god, that woman's grip was not gentle at all. Were all females so aggressive?

"That is totally not the same thing! Mitsunari, tell her that isn't the same thing!" Oh god no don't bring me into this-

"Mitsunari won't agree with you because I am right! Isn't that right Mitsunari?" Her grip tightened and I felt like I was now between two rock-shaped hands and a hard, horned wall.

"Well, I ugh…" I paused as Harribel stopped as did Sung-Sun, causing for me to abruptly stop as well. Was I to be saved? Harribel turned, her gaze indifferent as it fell to me and then shifted to her fraccion. "Go ahead with Sung-Sun and prepare a sleeping quarters for our new teammate. Leave us."

Oh yes, I had been spared! I felt relief was over me as Mila Rose's stone-hands reluctantly released my sore shoulders and she began to proceed ahead. After a few steps she was back into arguing with Apacci, the fire of their debate returning in full swing as Harribel stood before me.

I shifted my attention from them to the looming figure over me. I had shrunken from my transformation, losing a bit of my height. I could tell she stood a solid couple inches over, her vibrant aqua green eyes locking with my amber orbs.

There was a sudden intensity that made me somehow miss Mila Rose's hard hand. Oh boy, this was about to be a hell of a tongue-lashing. She drew in a breath of air before she began and I readied myself. That was one thing Apacci had been right about; my actions were rash and not very well-planned. To think they wouldn't have repercussions would be moronic.

"What you did was two things. One, it was absolutely foolish and could have easily found you either dead or injured. My guess is the former, not the latter. You may be new to Las Noches but I expect you to know not to be so impulsive and reckless. You even put the rest of your teammates in harm's way by jumping in, if that had escalated any farther and erupted into a melee then things could have become terrible for one side or the other. And while I know they came in on their own will and that you didn't instruct them, it is no excuse. You know you are a part of my fraccion, and we will not leave one of our own behind to fight a greater foe." I bared the full blunt of the words, it was only right.

I hadn't truly understand the risks I was taking when she mentioned the joining of my fellow teammates. Apacci. Mila Rose. Sung-Sun. And even Harribel, I had put her in the line of fire. I accepted my mistake entirely, standing as tall as I could.

"However," She began, keeping her gaze steady on me, "what you did was noble. And respectable, to stand up for an injustice being committed. I don't approve due to the consequences that were possible, but I do understand why and I am willing to grant clemency for it and not punish you. It was…refreshing to see someone stand for what is right even at an expense for themselves."

She paused; her gaze softening as I merely offered a smile and allowed her to continue on. We began walking now, though her gait was slowed. I am assuming that was for my benefit, and I felt a bit embarrassed for it and did my best to try to walk without a hint of a limp.

"Tell me, I understand why you did it, but what truly was your plan? Did you expect Baraggan to back down to you? Did you intend to release your zanpakuto?"

I paused in my thinking and blinked a bit, giving a slight chuckle as I rubbed the back of my tussled locks. "I…I didn't exactly have one. Not like I had much time to hatch one. Though I wasn't dumb enough to pick a fight with the old man, I wouldn't have lasted long enough for you to save me. I just knew I had to get Ggio away from him and I saw a chance and seized it. If a fight had erupted it may have been bad though, I have no clue how to release my zanpakuto or how to even handle it…"

"Reckless, as I said." Harribel muttered, shaking her head disapprovingly as I could only offer a cheeky grin and shrug gently. She didn't seem as hard about it as she snorted in slight amusement before she looked down to my sheathed zanpakuto that I carried.

"For someone with such reishi, your blade is smaller than expected. Much smaller, actually. However, that means your reishi has diverted to other areas. So when you release it, I am interested to see the outcome. However, you will know when the time comes how to. It is an instinct, just like reigning in all of the energy earlier during your transformation. You'll figure it out when push comes to shove."

I slowly nodded in understanding, frowning as realization washed over me. The whole concept of having to be pushed to the brink just to learn my zanpakuto's release did not exactly thrill me. I'm not sure if my opponent would be so kind as to just allowing me that grand opportunity. Also, it meant I wouldn't be able to fight at full power, which could hinder me in just about any circumstance.

"Isn't there a better way? One that doesn't involve me possibly getting cut down before I can even utter its names?" I inquired, lifting the blade out and musing with it, hoping somehow that it would just awaken.

"Well, zanpakuto's are released by a command, followed by their name. This allows us to go into our resurrección, the state that changes our appearance and enhances our abilities or grants us new ones. There is no exact way to find out the name of your blade except when it chooses to awaken and reveal itself. Until then, you are stuck with your energy sealed up by it. Most Espada find out soon after their creation, usually fraccion only take a bit longer. So you may not be pushed to the edge, but I wouldn't put it past your weapon. Zanpakutos can be fickle by nature."

I listened, not looking to her but my weapon as I tapped it a few times. Wakey wakey spirit, want to tell me your name? Silence was of course my answer as merely sighed. Hopefully I would find out with time, and not as I was pushed to my limit.

My eyes shifted back to Harribel and the zanpakuto she wielded on her back, examining it for a moment. While it was not particularly long, it was unusually wide. Its handle was purple, and its guard was as wide as its blade, with three small holes on either end. "What is the name of your zanpakuto?"

"Tiburón." She replied, her voice smooth as it glided out of its light pink sheath. It was completely hollow in the middle, essentially consisting of nothing more than the edges of what would otherwise be a regular sword. It was unusual for sure as I gave it a closer look.

"What's its command?" I asked now, my curiosity getting the better of me. This was the first time I had really had a moment to examine a zanpakuto other than my own. And mine wasn't much to look at, literally. And then with Ggio's I was trying to keep from stabbing me, so I didn't have much of a chance to examine it.

"Destroy." Harribel said in a voice that sent chills along my spine. Something about it was cold and distant, a sort of iciness that could only be achieved through a terrible experience. I would know, personally.

With Harribel's spiritual pressure, I could only assume the amount of carnage capable was astronomical. I adjusted a bit as we kept on, Harribel spinning the blade once before smoothly sliding it back within its sheath.

As she did so, the fabric of her jacket shifted and the collar of it lowered a bit, giving a bit better of a look at her mask that seemed to continue down. Harribel shifted her gaze to me and noted my watching, I could feel my gaze shift instinctually. I didn't wish to offend her in any manner, and I had no idea if prolonged staring at her would be taken the wrong way.

We walked in silence for a few more strides as I looked to the opposite wall, keeping a look of cool indifference as I continued to run my thumb along the hilt of my zanpakuto. However, the silence only lasted a few more moments as Harribel came to a stop.

"Are you curious about the nature of my mask?" She asked suddenly, a question making me come to a full stop myself as I turned. I stared into her eyes as I did, there seemed to be no irritation glinting in them so I saw no harm in admitting the truth.

"I am curious, yes. However, I didn't want to outright ask. I…I don't quite know how customs here work. I'm not used to be an Arrancar and all that it entails. So I figured the better option was to just be silent and not ask."

Harribel gave a snort of amusement, just as she had earlier as she slowly removed a hand that was crossed across her midriff and placed it upon her collar. "You did not seem very concerned with customs earlier when you defied an Espada and stood against them, but I have no qualms with revealing myself to my fraccion." With one simple flick of her wrist, the zipper on her jacket came down and the white fabric parted.

The remnants of her mask were on the sides of her face, her mouth, and an extensive area below and around her neck, extending down to and covering her breasts. There seemed to be layers spread across the mask remnants at certain areas, and she had razor sharp teeth along the area where her mouth was. In a way, it had a look of elegance to it but yet invoked a slight bit of fear into me as I examined it further.

They looked so much more different from my own. That and there was so much more of her mask than my own. Her mask almost acted as a set of clothing while mine just went along my jawline and over my chin. It was incredibly, I was baffled by it and I could not help but to just stare at it and observe every little feature about it.

I was so engrossed with her mask that I failed to notice her closing in on me, I only noticed as her taller form was soon standing before me and her hand had risen and touched my cheek gently. The touch sent a sensation of warmth and comfort crackling down my spine as I straightened up and my gaze shifted up to meet her own.

Her hand didn't linger along my cheek for long, her fingers began to instead lightly glide across the remnants of my mask as I noted her examining it. She gave a gentle hum as she moved her hand from one side of my face to the other.

"Usually, Arrancar retain a fair portion of their mask after transformation. I have not seem many who have such a little amount of it left as you."

Her hand had remained upon my visage as I had to force myself out of the trance I was in from her touch to try to find the proper words. Just, any type of coherent response. My lips parted as I asked the first thing to come to mind, "Is that good or bad? Does it mean I have less power than most or more?"

Harribel hummed once more as she removed her hand from my jawline and began to walk on ahead once more, zipping up her jacket as she went. "It could be either one, but it means that I was correct in my first assumption of you. That you are unique."

I was baffled for a slight moment before I began to quickly move and catch up. Most of the way we walked in silence, I followed close behind her and replayed the recent events of the day. It was quite a bit to adjust to and fathom.

I thought of the fight with Ggio and the whole bit of chaos that went on afterwards. I thought of the abruptness of becoming an Arrancar. The time I had spent treading through Hueco Mundo unknowingly aimed towards Las Noches. Then the time before that where I had consumed my fallen comrades. All of it within such a short time span…There was no way to truly describe it. My entire world and its focus had shifted. Now my world was the palace I approached behind Harribel. My focus was now my new master and my three comrades. And part of me resisted it.

Part of me didn't want to let go of the past and those I left behind in the desert. It was a struggle but while I was walking I could only think one thing. One simple fact.

I couldn't stay caught up in the past any longer or keep reminiscing about it. It didn't matter any longer, all I could do was carry it and bear its weight for those I had lost. Remember them, but don't dwell within it. To make sure their sacrifice wasn't in vain. I have this chance because of them, and I need to make the most of it. I need to keep moving on ahead and not dwell on it, that isn't what they would want.

My inner monologue was cut off as Harribel stopped short of the entrance to her palace. I paused as well, stopping beside her as I arched my brows. We were stopping again? What for now?

"Those within the desert with you…What were they like?"

Oh no. Oh no no no no. I wasn't doing this, no. It was too soon. This was the thought I was trying to avoid, trying to avoid dwelling on them. The only way I'd been able to carry on through Hueco Mundo was because I was too drained to even think of anything else but my survival. When I finally awoke in Las Noches the turbulence kept them from my mind. While I was walking with Harribel I was focusing on her too much so to think on it as well. To acknowledge their sacrifice was one thing but to remember each of their faces and to focus on them and who they were was too much.

I could not handle that. Not now…Not today.

"There is absolutely nothing to discuss pertaining the issue." I stated briskly, feeling my nerves go on edge as I now refused to look at her and only gazed straight ahead.

Harribel was silent herself and we stood in such lovely awkward silence. I didn't mean to offend her, but such a thing was…It wasn't something I could discuss. Not yet. Just, not yet. Thankfully, she began walking again as I followed behind and we crossed the threshold into the palace.

"You're going to need a bath." She stated simply as we entered the palace. I arched my brow in slight curiosity. A bath…? What the hell was that?

Before I knew it, was lead into some large room that was mainly occupied by some oversized, smooth, alabaster-colored container with a hole in the center of it. I just stared for a moment and drew closer, noting it was filled to the brim with water that seemed to radiate heat. Is this what the fraccion had gone ahead to prepare?

…Was I supposed to drink this?

I stared curiously for a while before turning and finally breaking down to ask a question. To my surprise I not only found Harribel but Mila Rose, Apacci, and Sung-Sun as well. Each of them eyed me expectantly and I only stared back quizzically. What were the two tubes they were holding?

I looked at them, each in Sung-Sun's hands. Sham-poo…? Soap? I looked to Harribel, hoping that by now the confusion was evident. My entire life had been within Hueco Mundo, the only time I came close to water was when it was shot at me at terrifying speeds. Whatever concept this was, was something that went far over my head.

"You are going to take a bath because you smell terrible and look like you scoured Hueco Mundo for seven years." Apacci stated plainly. That didn't explain much, because I knew I smelled terrible. Now that I was an Arrancar my sense of smell became more prominent and I was aware of my stench. This did not explain to me what a bath was however.

Sung-Sun seemed to notice that I stilled looked confused as she approached and motioned downwards with her hand. "Disrobe. You are going to get into that water and wash yourself of all the blood and grime on you. Unless you want to sleep outside, that is."

I paused a bit at her command, looking to them all and blinking a bit. I began to disrobe from the attire I wore. I still a slight flushed from exposing myself, and it didn't help that each of them were watching me like I was a hawk. Was this necessary? Did they have to watch me-

"Sung-Sun, you handle this. Apacci, Mila Rose, and myself will depart before he combusts into flames." Harribel stated simply as she began to saunter out, having to pull Mila Rose and Apacci with her. That helped me flustering a bit as I slid into the tub as Sung-Sun calmly explained to me what each item did before leaving me to my own devices.

It was during this night I learned two vital things. One, baths were a wonderful thing that I needed more of. My muscles melted and I could feel my entire frame just wither away and bask in the warmth.

Secondly, getting shampoo in one's eyes was a terrible, terrible thing.